wendymathis.com

Got my first top fives in Australia!

Wendy Mathis — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 19:33:09 +0000

Wendy’s Words – Well I finally got my first win!!!!! I won the first heat race by about a straight

away, so that was a great feeling. I felt so comfortable out there I could hardly believe it. I was

able to get the jump on the start and lead all ten laps. The track was still fairly wet and good at

that point, but the track went away really bad for the feature. It slicked over big time, but did not

take any rubber, so there was no grip whatsoever. I started third in the A Main and ran most of

the race there until I got punted in turn three. That really irritated me, but as they say in Formula

One, I got a bit of the “red mist” in my eyes and ended up working my way back up to 5th. So that

was my first top 5 in a feature! We keep getting better and better each time out, it’s such a great

feeling. I am really hoping to keep my sting alive of improving my finish each time out and be able

to get a top 3 or better for the next race.

Dubbo – Night #1

Well I finally got my first win!!!!! I won the first heat race by about a straight away, so that was a great feeling. I felt so comfortable out there I could hardly believe it. I was able to get the jump on the start and lead all ten laps. The track was still fairly wet and good at that point, but the track went away really bad for the feature. It slicked over big time, but did not take any rubber, so there was no grip whatsoever. I started third in the A Main and ran most of the race there until I got punted in turn three. That really irritated me, but as they say in Formula One, I got a bit of the “red mist” in my eyes and ended up working my way back up to 5th. So that was my first top 5 in a feature! We keep getting better and better each time out, it’s such a great feeling. I am really hoping to keep my sting alive of improving my finish each time out and be able to get a top 3 or better for the next race.

Dubbo – Night #2

We were short handed tonight – just me and Jay. But hard work doesn’t scare me so we just got on with the job at hand. The heat race went pretty good and I came home third. Not as good as last night, but the car still felt good, so no worries there. We lined up for the feature and the track was looking good, so I was really excited. So remember how I said I wanted to keep improving my finishing spot? I should have won it but I waited too long to get around someone and got passed. I was soooooooo close to picking up my first dirt feature win. I probably could have really forced the issue, but I didn’t want to tear up any stuff. And at the end of the day, second place against all of these guys that do this full time down here in Australia? I’ll take it!

Race on.

Wendy

Led some laps, got my first Top 10!

Wendy Mathis — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 21:35:05 +0000

G’day Everyone.

Three races in the books down under for me. Each night out we’ve improved our form. So far I’ve just been racing at Parramatta Speedway as the other tracks got rained out. Hopefully the weather will play nice and I will get to race at Dubbo here shortly.

So if you haven’t checked out my reports over at FloridaSprintCarFans.com things have been going well. My last night out at Parramatta I started on the outside of the front row in the A Main, led a little and eventually came home ninth. The track started coming apart real bad and that’s something I’m just not used to given my pavement background and all.

But Craig Skene and the boys have really given me a car that I am really comfortable in. It’s just amazing really. It’s like we’ve been racing together our whole lives.

If you want to read a really nice article about us, check out this link to the K&N website. It’s a great article!

We’ll have some more pictures from Australia posted shortly. And to all of you guys that have sent me e-mails of support and well wishes, thank you so much!

Race on.

Wendy

Australian rain looks like American rain!

Wendy Mathis — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 21:31:43 +0000

G’day everyone.

It’s raining cats and dogs (kangaroos and wallabees?) down here. Dubbo and Parramatta both got rained out, so I’ve been playing tourist waiting for another race, which should be on Monday.

Craig Skene’s brother Gavin has taken some amazing pictures, which you can find over in the multimedia section.

Thanks again for tuning in and hopefully we can get back on the track here shortly and get to throwin’ some dirt around!

Race on.

Wendy

I’m here in Australia!

Wendy Mathis — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 21:28:26 +0000

Just a quick note to everyone – we are off to Parrametta tonight. Hopefully the rain holds off long enough for us to get the show in. They never have rain like this down here, so I must have brought them some Florida rain!

Keep your fingers crossed and I’ll let you know how I do.

Race on.

Wendy

We’re here in Concord!

Wendy Mathis — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:07:44 +0000

Well, as you can see, I made it to Concord Speedway. We had a great day so far. We went by the Joe Gibbs Racing Nationwide shop this morning to pick up a few cases of oil. We met Brandie and Dennis and got a quick tour of the shop. You should have seen the look on my Mom and Dad’s face !

Then it was off to ButlerBuilt to see Jeannie and Robert. Chad Kemenah stopped in with his crew chief while we were there , nice guys ! After our stop at ButlerBuilt , it was over to the infamous Concord Speedway to get a sneak peek of the track.

WOW ! ! This place is gonna be fast ! Getting ready now to head over to Quaker Steak and Lube for a TV shoot and an appearance. Everybody has been so super nice so far. Hope to see you guys at the track this weekend !

Race On !

Wendy

North-South Shootout, here I come!!!!

Wendy Mathis — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 21:24:16 +0000

It’s time to go racing again! My next race will be in Concord, NC, November 5, 6 and 7th, at Concord Speedway for the North-South Shootout. This will be our biggest weekend of the 2009 season. I’m really looking forward to making the trip to the Charlotte area for this huge weekend of racing. Not only will the TBARA be in town, but also on the card at Concord are the CRA Super Late Models, the SK Tour modifieds, Vintage Modifieds and Vintage Sportsman.

And if that’s not enough to persuade you into coming to Charlotte, the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars and the World of Outlaws Late Models series will be at the Dirt Track @ Lowe’s for their world finals. Come join me and the crew over at Quaker Steak and Lube on Wednesday night before we hit the track on Thursday.

I look forward to seeing all of my fans from Florida in Charlotte for this huge weekend.

Race on.

Wendy

I need to thank a few people!

Wendy Mathis — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 00:13:46 +0000

Hey everybody.
Just getting ready for a weekend full of racing. Not mine this time though. Tonight I’m going to watch my friend and faithful crewmember, the “HotFoot” Brian Penrose, race his mini sprint at Ocala Speedway on Friday night. Then it’s over to Citrus County Speedway as we are having a crew night out to spectate as the CFWSCA rolls into town.

I want to give a quick shout out to everyone that has been so helpful with my program over the past few weeks. I know that I will miss a few of you so don’t get mad, but Todd Schmidt, Dave Steele, Lee Cipray, Richard Martin, Scott Deihl, Carl Bush, Ricky Burnett, Shane Butler, Stan Butler, Paulie Milum, Sport Allen, and so many others. A big THANK YOU for everyone that has helped. It means a lot to me ! And a special thanks go out to Brian, Dylan, & Tom Penrose, and Todd Michaels for their continued support through the tough and trying times and I love having you guys as my crew.

The last thank you is saved for Josh Wichers who has been working on my car non-stop, pulling in favors left and right, working in the shop until two in the morning, and always doing whatever it takes to get our program pointed in the right direction. You are the best Josh!

Race On,
Wendy

Desoto Speedway – 09.19.09

Wendy Mathis — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 02:37:54 +0000

Hi Everybody.

Boy, that one got away from us…

We had a really good night, I have to tell you. We found a few things this week that were giving us some fits, mainly over-inflated shocks and finally getting a new Wilwood master cylinder (thanks Wilwood!) to correct the brake issues we’ve been having. We got that straightened out, and also got some helpful hints from Lee Cipray on race day that helped point us in the right direction. Thanks a ton Lee! And also thanks a ton to Todd Schmidt who once again pitched in and helped us out!

I would also like to point out that Josh busted his butt to make setup changes before the race, and prepping the car during the week, and as a team we really worked together very well Saturday night.

In the heat race, I felt really comfortable and snagged a good transfer spot in third. This gave me a very good starting spot for the feature, and let me say this right now – the car felt really good. I ran in the top four for almost the whole feature and then at the end the car got loose on me and I got passed and then the car in front of me got way loose which caused me to check up big time, dropping me back to 10th. I picked off the car in front of me on the last lap to come home 9th.

Another top 10, and we’ll take it, but this one well and truly got away from us. We were solid. A top 5 was right there for the taking and then we had some issues with other cars that messed us up.

We got off to a rough start this year, but as a team, we are really coming together right now.

You guys better watch out – I might surprise you in the upcoming races.

Race on.

Wendy

This weekend – Desoto Speedway.

Wendy Mathis — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 02:44:40 +0000

Hi Everybody.

Unfortunately we got rained out up at Cordele for the USCS race. That was a shame because I really like that track and we’ve been very fast there in the past. We did have some fun out at the local restaurants doing public relations for the race however.

Onward and upward.

Saturday night is a return to Desoto Speedway. I’m looking for another good run. The car was very predictable last time and I was running with the lead pack all night. I’m very much looking to improve on last time’s finish and be closer to the front of the pack, if not Victory Lane!

Race on.

Wendy

Cordele – here we come!

Wendy Mathis — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 11:46:13 +0000

Hi Everybody.

We’re getting the car finished up and loaded today so we can motor on up across the state line to Georgia for the USCS Asphalt Thunder race at Watermelon Capital Speedway in Cordele.

I really like this track a lot – it’s fast and smooth. We were very fast there in practice last year but made some changes for the feature that ended up hurting us. We won’t make that mistake again this year.

Come out and cheer us on – this should be my best run all year. We’re very pumped up.

Race on.

Wendy